The return of club rugby is set to collide with the much maligned National Rugby Championship this year, creating more doubt about the competition's future.
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Club competitions in Sydney and Canberra could return within the next few months, with Shute Shield aiming for a July 25 start and November finish.
That would overlap with the regular NRC slot, putting players in a tug of war between club and third tier rugby.
The NRC bridges the gap between club rugby and Super Rugby, giving untested talent a chance to challenge themselves against contracted players.
Rugby Australia is pushing to get Super Rugby back into play in early July, with a domestic or trans-Tasman competition looming as the most likely option for this year.
ACT Brumbies boss Phil Thomson says all tiers are being considered in their 2020 remodel, including the NRC.
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"There's a lot of pieces of the puzzle to fall into place, especially timing wise of what stage of the year we'll be able to play again and if the NRC fits into that timeline," Thomson said.
"That considers how long the Super Rugby and club seasons might be, and what Test matches are available.
"The calendar becomes crammed to fit everything in and Rugby Australia need to have discussions with Fox, which hasn't started yet.
"There's lots of models being worked on at the moment which includes all forms of the game, including Super Rugby, Test matches, club rugby and NRC. But nothing has been decided yet."
The future of the NRC will also depend on broadcast agreements, with Rugby Australia yet to cement a deal for 2021 and beyond.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks would be the financial commitment to play a national competition following the impacts of COVID-19.
Canberra Vikings coach Nick Scrivener says it's unlikely the NRC will be run in the same window as Super Rugby this year, but hopes Rugby Australia retains a third-tier competition of some form.
"I think that tier of rugby is important. Whether that's the NRC or some other bridging competition, it's a good level of rugby and has given many players opportunities," Scrivener said.
"Finances have taken a bit of a hit with the coronavirus, so whether it's sustainable in the future I don't know.
"But I hope there's something along those lines which fits that profile of competition.
"People have been talking about this being a chance to redefine the rugby landscape and how competitions are run, so it's just another variable that's been flown around."
Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
